TINY HOUSE FAQs
General ‘Why Tiny’ Questions:
Q: Why get a tiny house?
(1) Financial freedom. Love to own your own home without the 30 year mortgage? Want to reduce all those ever climbing utility bills? You can enjoy a quality dwelling with all the comforts and mod cons at a greatly reduced cost. Be mortgage free in 3-4 years and greatly lessen bills by going for the off-grid options. View tiny house finance options.
(2) Have time to pursue what you love. With reduced financial pressure & bills you open up possibilities to pursue worthwhile & enriching interests, relationships & lifestyle patterns. Chase the things you value, the things that make you happy and healthy.
(3) Sustainable & environmentally conscious. Tiny Houses promote sustainable, low carbon footprint, eco-friendly living without sacrificing quality, beauty or functionality.
(4) Increased lifestyle flexibility. Need a change of scenery? Take your home with you!
(5) Income Source. Need some guest accommodation or want to make some extra pocket money? Use a tiny house for Air B&B or many other accommodation options.
(6) Low maintenance. Less space means less stuff, less clutter, less mental load, less to clean.
(7) Stepping Stone. A Tiny House can reduce your living costs while you pursue working toward something else.
Questions Regarding Customisation:
Q: What level of customisation does Häuslein offer in builds?
A: We want you to feel completely at home in your tiny house which is why we endeavour to accommodate your needs and preferences as best as possible! Our approach is to design beautiful, well-made tiny houses that will suit the needs of many people. With co-founders who live tiny full time and customers across an extensive demographic range, we seek to offer a collection of designs within which most 'tiny housers' can find something that suits them and their unique situations, ready to go.
Many aspects need to come together to perfectly create that blend of aesthetics, functionality and personal touches that make a house truly a home. In a small space, the need to make sure everything ties together is amplified, and, as one of Australia’s longest established tiny house companies, we pride ourselves on the giving the attention to detail necessary to create masterful designs that really work, are of exceptional quality and look amazing to boot. It’s these details you want to be looking for in a tiny house builder.
As you can imagine, there are a thousand and one factors which need to be considered in each design and one small change, can start an avalanche of implications not previously thought of! We've taken a lot of this hard work out for you, having tried and tested what works and what doesn't. It might surprise you to know that our happiest customers are typically those who opt for our standard designs as there are a lot less surprises!
Saying all this, we do understand the need for some personal touches or unique adjustments and do our best to cater for these when they come up. We just recommend avoiding too much change as there can be trade-offs in space, weight, extra costs, resale value and possibly longer time to complete.
Working through changes to design takes time and adds complexity. There is often significant administrative time involved in communication between customer and design team, in ensuring that changes maintain structural and design integrity and adhere to restrictions within which we can build, in researching and pricing materials as well as the additional time involved in making adjustments to typical work flow. We charge set fees for customisation as follows. Please contact our sales team to discuss your unique needs and obtain a quote.
Q: Can I customise the building materials?
A: At Häuslein we’re all about quality so the materials we’ve chosen are those that will stand the test of time. We don’t use any chipboard, vinyls or MDF anywhere in our builds, only solid timbers and plywood when it comes to the timber aspects and only the best can source elsewhere.
We build everything from scratch and we buy in bulk so, despite the high end products we use, we aim to keep the price down as much as possible. Some changes may be possible but will attract a customisation fee. Please chat with our sales team to discuss what you have in mind and obtain a quote.
Feel free to watch a video where Scott explains in more detail about the building materials we use, why we use them and the common alternatives here.
Q: What are the maximum dimensions I can have?
A: The maximum height is 4.3m, the maximum width is 2.5m and the maximum length is 9m (10.5m including the draw bar). We keep our builds within the restrictions required for road legality. This means we are also limited to a weight of 4.5 tonne. We’re unable to build longer than 9m without going over 4.5 tonne.
One of our favourite features, is the ‘slide out.’ This provides almost an extra metre (900mm) of width to a section of the home, taking away from the corridor feel tiny houses can have. Modular extensions are also a possibility.
Questions Regarding Quality:
Q: To what standard are the Tiny Houses built?
A: As already mentioned, at Häuslein we strive to build to the highest building standards possible, going beyond what is found in prefab granny flats and most conventional houses built today. Quality materials and outstanding workmanship are what we’re about. We build everything from scratch right here in Australia and are creating homes that will last for generations, not houses that will look worn in a few years. Häuslein Tiny Houses are built by Australians to withstand transportation and Australia’s harshest conditions.
Legality Questions:
Q: Are Tiny Houses Road Legal?
A: Yes, our Tiny Houses are built to be legally transportable on Australian roads and fully road registrable should the need arise. They are registered with the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) (which is a requirement for all vehicles sold in Australia - different to road registration). They also come with identification markings including a VIN Number and data plate. Legally, a Häuslein tiny house, built on a trailer, falls under caravan legislation. A Tiny Home does not usually require road registration so registration is optional. A temporary permit (Unregistered Vehcile Permit - UVP) is available from your local Transport Authority if you need to move it on rare occasions via roadways and it is usually also very affordable.
Q: Where can I put my Tiny House & is council approval required?
A: Because tiny houses are classed as caravans, caravan regulations apply. See here for NSW legislation. There is some variation between states and local councils but as a general rule, in most situations a household member is able to live in a tiny house when it is parked on a property with an existing dwelling without any council approval. In built up areas or suburbs there are some restrictions as to distances away from back and side fences.
At the time of writing, if you are wanting to put your tiny house on a block as a primary dwelling, you can have it in use for up to 60 days per year (no more than 48 hours at a time) without any council approval (say a weekender or Air B&B type situation). It can also be used by seasonal workers on a rural block for the duration of an agricultural worker’s season without any council approval needed.
If you are wanting to put it on a block to live in full time as the only dwelling or one of multiple tiny houses, you’ll have to apply for permission with your local council. From chatting with our local Port Macquarie/Hastings Council, they will need to check things like zoning, fire & flood safety, what you plan to do with drainage etc but it should be totally doable. Every council will differ slightly so check with yours. The process however, should be somewhat simpler than a traditional build because there are aspects of the normal DA process that don’t apply due to the relocatable nature of tiny homes. At the time of writing, there are some legislative changes under consideration in NSW. It’s always helpful to check directly with your local questions for the most up to date information.
Questions Regarding Delivery, Installation & Setup:
Q: Can my new Tiny House be delivered?
A: Yes, Häuslein delivers Australia-wide. Please request a quote for delivery from our workshop in Herons Creek, NSW.
Q: Can Häuslein install my tiny house for me?
A: Yes, we offer an installation service which involves levelling, and installation onto individually adjustable piers and tie-down system. This will help your tiny house be as steady as a rock. Our draw bars are removable and you can also take the wheels off your tiny house to create a very non-trailer looking tiny house.
Q. How do I connect power & water to my Tiny House?
A: Our tiny houses come with the same connections you would find on a caravan. They plug in with a regular 240v power socket and water can be connected simply by clicking in a regular garden hose. Simple as that!
Q: How does the toilet work in a Tiny House?
A: You have 2 main options. If you’re in a built up area, you can have a traditional flush toilet plumbed into an existing septic system (just check that your system is big enough to essentially sustain an extra bathroom - most would be). At the same time you would also have the drainage connected to your existing drainage system. This might cost in the realm of $1000 for both, depending on how far your systems are from where you’re positioning your tiny house.
If you’re wondering whether plumbing your tiny house into existing systems would require council approval, from speaking with our local council, at the time of writing, our understanding is no. You can still disconnect the tiny house and move it elsewhere very easily. Just make sure sewage has the capacity for the intended usage. Do check with your council directly though as this may vary from council to council.
The other option for the toilet is the composting toilet, allowing your tiny house to be completely independent. These are a great product and don’t smell at all. One great brand of composting toilets we use is Green Loo, more details here.
Q: What about grey water/drainage?
A: As mentioned above, your Tiny House’s drainage can be plumbed into existing drainage if you are in a built up area. Alternatively a grey water filtration system can be installed. A simple slotted pipe in the ground with layers of gravel and sand to filter your grey water may also be suitable in some circumstances. It’s just important to remember to use earth friendly soaps and products.
Q: What about guttering?
A: Guttering can be fitted to your tiny house, however this needs to be fitted once on site as it puts the tiny house over the road legal width restrictions. Your guttering is best supplied and fitted by a local plumber (they may also assist in connecting up your toilet or grey water and could do this at the same time). Guttering can be colour matched to the Monument Matt Colorbond cladding we use.
Questions Regarding Ordering & Building:
Q: What is the current build time?
A: The build will take approximately 8-12 weeks depending on the model and what your position is in the build queue. We are often booked out for 6-12 months in advance so get in early if you have a time frame in mind.
Q: How do I get a quote for a tiny house?
A: There is a form on each model page or on the Order Page which you can complete and submit via our website. We’ll get back to you soon with a quote for a tiny house build.
Q: What is the order, build and payment process like?
A: All these questions are answered on the Order Page.
Questions Regarding Off-Grid:
Q: Can I go off-grid with my Tiny House?
A: Yes, you can! There are 4 main areas that need to be addressed in going off grid. These are power, water, toilet & drainage. There are great solutions for each of these needs including solar & battery systems, composting toilet options, water collection systems & pumps as well as drainage systems. Häuslein can recommend some systems but these are ordered direct from suppliers by customers. See the blog post on ‘8 things to think through before you go tiny’ or contact us for details.
Q: Doesn’t the composting toilet smell?
A: Amazingly, no! It’s a great system which has a fan that always draws the air out leaving your bathroom always fresh. We recommend EcoFlo low profile composting toilet or the GreenLoo GL90, both designed for tiny houses.
Q: How is the composting toilet installed?
A: We can cut the hole for your system if you let us know what you’ve ordered but installation occurs once on site and is arranged by customer. For some this is DIYable with the instructions provided, for others a plumber will be able to help.
Questions Regarding the additional ‘Slide-Out’ Feature:
Q: How do the slide-out sections in some models move in and out?
A: It simply runs on bearings and can be slid in and out by 1-2 people very easily and locked into place. Imagine a giant drawer.
Q: Is the slide-out likely to leak?
A: No, it’s been tried and tested and designed with angles, layers of seals and flashing to prevent any weather getting where it shouldn’t. It’s also easily serviceable with parts that are replaceable in the unlikely event that there was a problem. We’ve been building them for 5+ years.
Common Design Questions:
Q: Some models have the wardrobe located in the bathroom. Won’t this allow for mould in the clothing?
A: For the steam to enter the cupboard through the very small cracks there would have to be some kind of suction or pressure drawing it into the cupboard. With the extraction fan in the bathroom on, quite the opposite will be happening. Air will be drawn out of the cupboard. Additionally, the growth of mould is encouraged by prolonged dampness. Good ventilation, a strong fan and the air-conditioning system all assist in keeping the Tiny House dry throughout.
Q: Is the timber in the bathroom prone to mould?
A: The solid pine used in the bathroom is the same material used in saunas.
Q: Can I have stairs or no loft at all instead of a ladder in my Tiny House?
A: Ladders are a great option. They’re safe, giving you three points of contact at all times and we also build them to extend past the floor so you have something to hold onto until you are all the way up. They can also allow for a more functional kitchen with generous bench space and a breakfast bar.
Saying that, ladders don’t suit everyone so we also offer plenty of models and variations with stairs as standard. Additionally we’ve added two single level designs to our fleet of options so there’s something to suit everyone. Note that in our stair models, our going and rise dimensions are built to Australian code (very rare in tiny houses!). We feel this is important for safety and comfort.
Questions Regarding Tours and Workshop Visits:
Q: I would like to see a Tiny House in person. Do you have one on display?
A: From time to time we attend tiny house events across Australia with a completed tiny house on hand or run our own events. Sign up to our mailing list to stay informed. You can also Book a Tour here and visit our workshop where you can see what we currently have on hand.